Why wait for the wedding for some boring gold band when you could've bought a mangagement ring - with diamonds? (Shutterstock)

(Newser)
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Times, they are a changin', and with change comes marketing opportunities. With more women proposing and an uptick in gay marriages, ''mangagement rings'' are being used more—and marketed harder—than ever, reports Details. British jeweler H. Samuel introduced the Tioro, a titanium ring with a subtle diamond, and a Robbins Brothers rep notes they have "literally hundreds of engagement rings for guys" in store. One young groom who exchanged engagement rings admits he was caught off-guard when his girlfriend rolled out a gold Celtic knot, "but liked it."

Sometimes, the mangagement ring makes its appearance due to dragged feet. Says one army reservist whose girlfriend proposed with a gold band, "I was playing with the idea of proposing to her, but she just kind of took the initiative." He notes that despite expectations to the contrary, his buddies have not given him ''too much crap.'' Of course, there are practical considerations as well: Notes a fiancee, ''If I can't be sneaky, neither can he.'' Other times, the impetus for the bling comes from the groom himself. One was overcome with desire while shopping for his girlfriend's ring: "I kind of under my breath was like, 'I want one, too."